The cynosure of all eyes at the four-course Sunday lunch Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted at his 7 Race Course Road residence for Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari were two young
guests - Mr Zardari’s son Bilawal, who heads the Pakistan People’s Party, and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi - who sat next to each other.

The two were seen talking to each other throughout the 50-minute lunch. It was revealed later that Bilawal had invited Rahul Gandhi to visit Pakistan soon, and that the latter had accepted the invitation.

Bilawal, 24, now studying history at Oxford’s Christ Church College (also attended by his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto), was named PPP chairperson days after his mother Benazir Bhutto’s
assassination in December 2007.

He tweeted soon after the meal: "Prez n I enjoyed lunch with Rahul Gandhi and PM Singh. lovely meal. Much to learn from each other."

Congress president Sonia Gandhi could not attend due to ill health, and sent her regrets. The lavish spread included kebabs, biryani and masala dosa. Dr Singh asked Mr Zardari to pray for peace in both India and Pakistan when he went to Ajmer Sharif immediately after the lunch.

Those present included senior ministers P. Chidambaram, A.K. Antony and S.M. Krishna, top BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Sushma Swaraj, NSA Shivshankar Menon and foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai. Mr Chidambaram could be seen exchanging notes with his Pakistani counterpart, interior minister Rehman Malik.

Sources disclosed among various issues that both Dr Singh and Mr Zardari discussed, the issue of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed also came up again. Mr Zardari, it is learnt, pointed out to Dr Singh that the terror mastermind was arrested four times and released by court every time.

Sources also said the Pakistan President was also keen to know from Dr Singh how India managed to have better trade relations with China with whom it had a boundary dispute. The Prime Minister is understood to have told Mr Zardari that India and China have worked out a mechanism to manage the boundary dispute.

It is reliably learnt that the two leaders were keen to double bilateral trade by 2014.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram was also seen exchanging notes with his Pakistan counterpart Rehman Malik at the long table decorated with flower vases and silver cutlery.

Security had been tightened around PM residence at 7 Race Course Road. Outside the PM's residence, national and international media had been waiting for the Pakistani delegation since morning.

Electronic media were seen jostling with each other to get a better view. Heavy security was deployed on routes taken by Mr Zardari's cavalcade in the city.

Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj who was also invited for the lunch, later tweeted: "Towards the end of lunch, Prime Minister told President Zardari that since he was going to Ajmersharif, he should pray before Khwaja sahib for peace in both our countries.... President Zardari promised to do that."

Defence Minister A K Antony, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, BJP parliamentary party chief L K Advani, Water Resources Minister P K Bansal, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai were also invited for the lunch.

Meanwhile, the menu, for the table of 20, started with cold Melon and Mint soup followed by Sarson ke Phool, Subz Shammi Kebab and mini masala dosa as starters for vegetarians.

The non-vegetarian menu had Jaithooni Murg Seekh and Gosht Barra Kebab for starters along with a non-veg variety of mini masala dosa.

The dignitaries were then served Kareli Dal Gosht (mutton), Murg Kofta Makhni (chicken), Sikandari Khusk Raan (lamb) with assorted rotis. Also served was the Kachi Gosht Biriyani.

The vegetarian spread included Tori Bhujia, Paneer Jhalfrezi and Makai Palak with assorted rotis. Not to forget was Avial (mixed vegetables), Moong Dal Tadka and Subz Biryani.

The dessert consisted of Blueberry Mousse, Gur Ka Sandesh, Phirni and fresh fruits.